Collapsible table, stand, box, or the like



COLLAPSIBLE TABLE, STAND, BOX, OR THE LIKE Filed June 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Pe+er Ern 5 INVENTOR;

Aug. 8, 1933. P. E. BIRD COLLAPSIBLE TABLE, STAND, BOX, OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed June 1931 F -{war Emes t Bu'cl INVENTOR,

Aug. 8, 1933.

P. E. BIRD COLLAPSIBLE TABLE, STAND, BOX, OR THE LIKE Filed June 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Pei'ef Ernesr Bil rd KNVENTOR,

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Patented Aug. 8, 1933 I UNITED STATES ,COLLAPSIBLE TABLE, STAND, BOX, on

THE LIKE H Peter Ernest Bird, London, England Application June 6, 1931, Serial No. 542,557, and in Great Britain June 11, 1930 3 Claims. (01. 45-11) The present invention relates to collapsible tables, stands boxes or the like, and in order that the nature of the invention may be understood it will be convenient first to describe it with specific reference to a table having a top and legs.

In a table according to the present invention the upper end of each of the legs is connected with the table top to swing about an axis which is in aplane parallel with the table top and which axis can itself swing about another axis at right angles to the plane of the table top. At or near the other or lower end of each leg it is similarly connected with a shelf or spider or other The axes whichare at right angles to the table top and the lower shelf or frame res'pect ively are disposed at or approximately at the corners of equal equilateral figures, and in each leg the distance between the axes is equal or approximately equal to the length of a side of the saidfigure. By this construction the table can be collapsed by twisting the top in relation to the lowershelf or frame and pressing the two towardseach other, the legs eventually folding L into a plane parallel with the top and the lower shelf or frame or substantially so, and the said top and lower shelf or frame lying in or nearly in contact with one another.

One convenient method of connection is to pro:

vide a small angle piece, one limb being pivoted 1 shelf or frame) v Any convenient means may be provided to maintain the table in open position and prevent it from collapsing In order that the invention maybe more fully understood it will now be described with reference to certain specific constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a four-legged two-tier table in erected position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table inverted and in partially collapsed condition.

Figure 3 is an underneath plan of the table in fully collapsed condition.

Figure 4 is an underneath perspective detail view on a larger scale showing the method of connection of one of the legs to the lower shelf.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a three-tier shown in Figure 2, but on an enlarged scale and.

with the flaps 13 and 14 omitted, in order clearly at right angles to the table top are disposed on to show the connection of theleg to the under side of the table top.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view showing means for locking together the leg elements 2 and 2 of the structure shown in Figure, 5 when 5 in the erected position.

Figure 8 is a diagram of a detail modification and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of table.

Referring first to Figures 1-4 inclusive; the table there shown comprises a top 1, four legs 2, and a lower shelf or tier 3. Each leg is pivoted at or near its upper endto one limb 4 of a small angle piece by means of a pivot pin 5 constituting an axis parallel with the plane of the table top. The other limb 6 is pivoted by means of ,a pivot pin 8 to a small plate, '1 rigidlyattached to the under side of the table top, the said pivot, pin constituting an axis at right angles to the plane of the said top. This latter pivot pin does not actually appear in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings but its position as shown in Fig. 6 is relatively similar in the limb 6 to that of the pivot 5 in the limb 4. The four said pivots constituting axes the corners of a square. At or near the lower end each leg is similarly connected to the lower shelf 3, that is to say it is pivoted by a pivot pin 5 lying in a plane parallel with the shelf, to one limb 4 of an angle piece the other limb 6 of which is pivoted by the pin 8 to a plate 7 attached to the under side of the shelf 3, this pin 8 constituting an axis at right angle to the said'shelf; The four pivots 8 are disposed similarlyto the four points at which the upper ends of thelegsjare pivoted to the table, that is to say they. are disposed at the corners of a square of the same size.

By this construction, assuming thetable to be erected, it can be collapsed (after releasing, any means locking it in the erected position) by relative twisting of the top and the lower shelf and pressing the two towards each other. Figure 2 shows the table in a partiallyv collapsed condi-. tion and the folding can be completed bycone tinuing to twist the shelf 3 to the left relatively to the top 1 until the, legs are folded right down on to the under side of the table top as shown in the underneath plan in Figure 3, the shelf 3 then lying close to and parallel to the tabletop. Piv-, oted catches 9 are shown which can be turned 1 over the legs to hold them in folded p'osition'and these are also shown" as provided with loops 1d which afford a convenient handle for carrying the table in the folded condition.

More than one way of erecting the table from folded position may be adopted. Thus having regard to Figure 3 and assuming it to represent the folded table lying top surface downwards on a floor or other surface, it can be erected, after turning the catches 9 away from the legs, by combined lifting and turning of the diametrically opposite free ends 2a of two opposite legs. Or, if the pivots all work freely and easily, the table top can be held with the top surfaceupwards and a downward jerk will effect the unfolding. The size and weight of the table will to some extent determine the method to be adopted.

In Figure 4 is shown a stop 12 against which the edge 11 of the angle piece abuts when the table is in fully extended position. This abutment however may be arranged to take place when the legs have slightly passed the fully extended position under which conditions it will afford prevention of collapsing of the table under the direct load of the table top and any weight supported thereby. It is preferred however to afford defi nite locking means to hold the table in erected position. Convenient locking means are shown in Figures 1 and 2. Four flaps in opposite pairs 13, 13 and 1 1, 14, are hinged to the under side of thetable top. 'The pair 13, 13,

overlap the other pair 14, 14, and are acted upon by springs 15 which act normally to keep them folded. After the table is erected the flaps 14 are gripped by their inside edges and folded out 3 which force open the other pair 13 against the action of the springs until they are wedged open as shown in Figure 1 with the portions 16 of the flaps 13 engaged in the recesses 1'7 formed in the legs. When the table is to be folded the ac- 3 tion is reversed, that is to say the flaps 14 are forced inwards when the whole flap combination collapses to the position shown in Figure 2 under the influence of the springs 15. For compact and complete folding the distance between'the pivots 5 by which each leg is pivoted to the table top and the shelf respectively should be equal to the length of a side of the square formation hereinbefore referred to.

In Figure 5 is shown a three-legged table with threetiers or in other words with a top and two lower shelves. The portion of this embodying the parts 1, 2 and 3 is similar to the construction shown in the preceding figures except that only three legs are provided which are pivoted,

through themedium of angle pieces as before,

to the table top land the shelf 3 at the angles of equal equilateral triangles. At the points however at which the legs 2 are pivoted to the limbs 4 of the angle pieces by which they are connected-to the shelf 3, extension legs 22) are also pivotedand' the lower ends of these are connected to the lower shelf in similar manner to that already described. Folding in this case is effected by twisting the central shelf 3 in relation to the top 1 and bottom shelf 3a and continuing the folding by pressing 1 and 3a towardseach other. Figure 7 illustrates means for locking the table in erected" position, comprising a locking clip or saddle piece 23 formed from bent wire which is hinged to the extension leg 21) through the medium of the bracket 24 fixed to the latter and can be turned up to'grasp the sides of the overlapping portions of 2 and 2b, as shown infull lines in Figure 7, or turned down to disengage from the said overlapping portions and to rest in inoperative position upon the outer face of the extension leg 21). The broken lines in this figure show the clip in an intermediate position.

Obviously such a construction to further tiers.

Tables as described may be provided with any convenient number of legs the general requirement for compact and complete folding being that the points at which the angle piecesare pivoted to the top and under shelf or shelves shall be at the corners of equal equilateral figures and that the distance between the points at which each leg is pivoted to the angle pieces shall be equal to a side of such figure. Slight variations however from these conditions due for example to inexact manufacture may still permit of practically complete folding.

To prevent collapsing under the direct load of the top and any weight supported thereby, and without the necessity for any catches or the like, the following construction may be'adopted,

can be extended see Figure 8.. The upper end of the leg 2 is provided with a plane portion 18 at right angles to its length and also with a rounded off portion 19, and is so pivoted as above described that the opening out of the leg is permitted by the rounded portion but when the leg reaches the position at right angles to the top the plane portion of its upper end abuts against the under side of the top 1 and prevents further movement. In conjunction with this the pivoting point 5 of the leg to the angle piece at the upper end is off-set in relation to the similar pivoting point 5 at the lower end in such manner that the weight on the table indicated by the arrow a, sets up a'couple about the lower pivot point 5 tending to continue the movement of the legs in the same direction and as this is prevented by the abutment of the plane portion 18 against theunderside of the table top 1 the table is stable under its load.

When used as a stand such for example asfor supporting a plant or ornament a cruciform or like frame may be substituted for the top as such, and may still be called the top for convenience. Another useful application of the invention is shown inFig. 9 in connection with ladies needlework stands 20 which comprise an open frame 22 at the top from which an open mouthed bag (not shown) may be suspended in the opening 21. An additional top or cover 1 may be provided connected by legs with the said frame in the manner hereinbefore described, the top 3a of the frame 22 of the needlework stand 20 constituting what has been hereinbefore referred to as the and a lower shelf or frame, wherein each leg is connected with the top to swing about an axis which is in a plane parallel with the plane of the top and which axis can itself swing about another axis at right angles to the plane'of the top, the lower ends of the legs being similarly connected with a lower shelf or frame, the axes which are at right angles to the table top and lower shelf or frame respectively being disposed at or approximately at the corners of equal equilateral figures and in each leg the distance between the axes being equal or approximately equal to the length of a side of the said figure.

2. A folding table or stand according to claim 1, modified by the addition of further or extension legs and a further shelf or frame substantially as described.

3. A folding table or stand as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for connecting the leg to 

